‘Clara Is Awesome’: See How This 9-Year-Old With a Facial Deformity Bravely Faces the World
- Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:12pm by
Liz Klimas
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In this Feb. 22, 2012 photo, Clara Beatty, second from left, looks at her mother, Janet Beatty, as the family poses for a family photo in their Winnetka, Ill., home. (Photo: AP/Martha Irvine)
WINNETKA, Ill. (AP) — What if you knew, even before your child was born, that she wouldn’t look like everyone else?
Clara Beatty’s parents knew.
They were living in Belgium at the time, a decade ago. Prenatal screening was extensive, probably more than would have been done in the United States.
Those tests determined that baby Clara, their third child, was likely to be a perfectly normal kid inside. But even in the womb, doctors could see severe facial deformities — droopy eyes, under-developed cheekbones and a tiny jaw. It meant she’d need a tube in her neck to help her breathe after birth. The lack of an outer ear and restricted ear canals also would mean she’d have hearing aids by the time she was 6 months old.
Clara has Treacher Collins syndrome, which caused her facial deformity, but she tries to act much like everyone else. (Photo: AP/Martha Irvine)
In Belgium, it was unusual for babies to be born with Treacher Collins syndrome, caused by a genetic mutation. Parents almost always opted to abort, doctors said.
But the Beattys wouldn’t hear of it. It wasn’t any big moral statement, they say.
“There was just no question,” Janet Beatty says. No wavering, despite the looks of disapproval from the medical staff before she was born and even after, in the intensive care unit.
“It was kind of strange sometimes with the doctors, some of whom I think really, really questioned why we had this baby,” says Eric Beatty, Clara’s dad.
Watch AP’s report on Clara:
The next few years would be so challenging that the family moved back to the United States, both for family support and to seek medical care at Chicago‘s Children’s Memorial Hospital and other institutions. There were breathing and feeding issues. The family had 24-hour nursing care for the first three years of Clara’s life because she vomited so frequently.
They were lucky, they realized, to have that kind of help.
Still, it took a toll on Clara’s parents, especially her mom. Janet Beatty just wanted her daughter to be OK physically, to not be constantly worried that she might stop breathing, or choke. She wanted her daughter to have the happy childhood that her other two children had had — free from the physical challenges and, yes, free from the constant stares of strangers when they were out in public.
Dr. Nancy Young, of the pediatric otolaryngology division at Children's Memorial Hospital, examines 9-year-old Clara's hearing aids. (Photo: AP/Martha Irvine)
“Make her normal,” her mother, Janet Beatty, thought privately. “I want that normal kid. I didn’t want people to stare, and I didn’t want people running away from her.”
Cosmetic surgery was an option. But on a child so young, it would have to be redone, over and over. It was better, doctors said, to wait until her teen years.
And as her parents discovered, Clara was quite able to cope, sometimes better than they. Even today, Janet Beatty is astounded at how well her youngest daughter navigates the world.
“Even when she was little, you could look at her and people would say there’s an old soul in there,” she says. “She just had these big eyes and you could see her taking everything in.”
Clara, then 8, poses with the family dog with sister Gretchen and brother Henry. (Photo: AP)
Certainly, there are times when Clara gets frustrated.
Now 9 years old and finishing the fourth grade, she looks forward to the day a few years from now when her skull will have grown enough for cosmetic surgery. It won’t “fix” things, but likely will help her blend more — and possibly help her get rid of the breathing tube.
“I want to try to make myself as much like the other kids, so that I can stop having everyone asking me questions,” Clara says, “because it gets so annoying.”
She says it matter-of-factly — not like she’s hurt or damaged by the questions and comments.
When people stare, she says, she just “smiles and says `hi,’” because that’s what her parents have taught her to do.
It’s easiest, of course, when she’s in her “protective bubble,” as her mom calls it — at home or school or church. There, people know her. To them, she is just Clara — the funny, kind girl who wants to be a doctor when she grows up, who’s quick to help classmates with homework when she finishes her own.
She also volunteers as a mentor at the Special Gifts Theatre, an acting troupe for children with special needs. One cognitively impaired girl needed help with her lines.
“It’s fun,” Clara says, “to help someone and give them a better chance at life.”
People often assume that Clara can’t speak or understand them. Her classmates at school, however, are perplexed that a reporter would be doing a story about her.
“Why?” one asks.
“Because Clara is awesome!” another quickly replies.
The support is heartening, her parents say. This is what they hoped for their daughter, that she would be accepted, well-adjusted and confident — though they also know that she has many challenges.
When she goes to middle school next year, there will be new people to meet, new adjustments. Same with high school, college, dating.
Doctors have told her parents that Clara is more likely to worry about her appearance when she reaches adolescence. “Those are hard things to think about in a world where your physical presence, the way you look, is so much a part of society and how people react,” says Eric Beatty, vice president of a manufacturing company.
“But as any parent will know, you just get on with life.”
Clara — the girl with big, brown eyes and an easy smile — has helped them truly learn how to do that.
“We‘re all learning that we’re just going to do what we’re going to do, and we’re not going to pay attention to what other people think,” Janet Beatty says.
Still, the urge to protect will always be there.
“I just don‘t want her spirit to ever be crushed so much that she can’t recover,” she adds. “That‘s why it’s good that she has the thick skin. I just want to keep it thick.
“She needs it.”
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Comments (90)
LovingAmerica
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:36pmWhat a beautiful precious angel. I would love to have her for my daughter! A very lovely and loving family…. God bless and keep them.
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 9:49pmWonder how long it will take the democrats to convince her that the challenges she faces are someone else’s fault and obama is her only hope..
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 8:42amBeauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can only hope and Pray, I can attain her inner beauty. Her outer beauty is TRUE beauty, not as the world judges beauty, but as GOD does. Even Jesus had no “LOOKS”-as defined by the world], alluded to in Isaiah Ch 53 V 2-4 , He hath no form nor comeliness,and when we shall see Him, there is no BEAUTY that we should desire HIM. Do NOT believe Mans’ depiction of Him as a tall, white, good looking male. This passage says He was not. What made him beautiful was HIS words, actions/deeds-His inner beauty. Clara is JUST like her Lord and Saviuor. Would that we all had her beauty!
Report Post »db321
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 10:57amGod always seems to find special parents to take care of his special children for him!
Report Post »tugdiver
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:34pmwhat could seem to be an abnormal variations on the short time scale can be necessary for a species survival on a greater time scale.
Thank you Blaze for posting these stories the message goes beyond overcoming obstacles or deciding to kill someone before their can taste their first birthday cake.
Report Post »JohnLarson
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:32pmThe dad looks like Mitt Romney… and would probably make a better nominee.
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:38pmGrow UP
Report Post »JohnLarson
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:47pmI’m serious. He probably would.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:53pmJohn Larson – Grow up is right!!!!!!!
The thought of you voting is frightening, what a dumb thing to say.
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 7:13pmlol
Report Post »bombshelterbob
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 7:25pmYou remind me of a guy I work with, he’s a pile too.
Report Post »REBELWITHACAUSE
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:24pm@ JohnLarson INTERROGATORS… you doofs need to lighten up… good grief… take a freakin’ chill pill. You folks don’t know… He could be right…
Report Post »SaintzOfAk
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 12:10amWANT…BOMB…and CHAZ…..why don‘t you little SOB’s go play in traffic. I know guys like you very well, i used to beat the $h@t out of ‘em, sounds like sum1 needs to work you girls over a bit for your boneheaded BS comments.
Report Post »Angel_light
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:25pmI adore her bravery, and that of her family.It takes something like the beautiful soul of this little girl that can teach people to be humble and to open their hearts to kindness. God bless her and her family
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:59pmWhen I look at her, I see what courage and perseverence look like. She is an example to all of us.
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:23pmWHAT a beautiful story” and WHAT a beautiful child:) Seeing this story, and the people in it makes me PROUD to be part of the Human Race!
Report Post »cuinsong
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:20pmHaving a child with any deformity inside or out is very emotional for the parents and family.
Report Post »My son was mentally ill and was for a time in institutions off & on!
As a parent neither my wife or myself ever thought of or wished he had not been born.
He lived for 38yrs (passed 2-15-2012) and even though the road was difficult our reward was knowing we give him the best life we could.
We know he understood the feeling of being loved.
We know he had some very good times to offset the bad and we know that life is about more then just pretty healthy normal people.
I salute this family and their willingness to give more then lip service to the responsibility they have as parents.
I pray your child has a long joyful life and some day finds a life mate that completes her life.
As the years went buy it became apparent our son would never find a life mate and except for family he lived
a solitary life. I wrote this song for him.
“Let it be My Turn” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11192493
OhSuzieQ
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 7:18pmOh Cuinsong, I am soooo sorry for your loss.
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 7:32pmThank you Cuinsong. I’m listening to all your songs now. Thanks again.
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 8:23pmSorry for your loss and thank you for your witness of faith.
Report Post »chankup
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 12:40amMay G-d comfort you on your loss. Thank you for sharing with us. It verbalizes a parents love for an ‘imperfect’ child.
Report Post »kat747
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 12:57pmBeautiful ! May you son rest in God’s arms thru eternity.
Report Post »CourierNEWS
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:16pmMy two children, as well as myself, have Treacher Collins. None of us are as severe as Clara, but it is noticeable. While the manifestations of this disorder vary greatly, there is one interesting statistic… people with Treacher Collins score (on average) about 10% above normal on IQ tests. As far as I know, there is no genetic connection between IQ and TC, and there is (of course) no guarantee that a TC kid will have a normal or higher than normal IQ. But then… there are very few guarantees at all when it comes to having children.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:07pm…
Report Post »All children are beautiful. A gift from God.
DagneyT
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:27pmShe‘s one of God’s earthly angels. Thank you, Lord, for providing us with these special angels!
Report Post »gobnait
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:05pmOne need only look past the superficial deformity and into those smiling eyes to quickly see the strength, warmth and beauty of her spirit.
Report Post »Whiteeagle
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:02pmThis old ‘gruff’ was touched to weepiness for this Beautiful little girl and her Loving Family …. GOD Is NOT Dead …
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:00pmLife is what you make it. I was born with several “disabilities” and was able to overcom the stigmas attached to them. It’s all in what you set your mind to do. She will actually have an advantage in life because she will learn early in life how tough it is…and that is a blessing. Do NOT ever allow her to be treated as someone special because of her disability and she will shine like a new penny….
Report Post »fireballs
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:48pmYes, what a brave family and little girl. I have a friend who had a child who was born with both male and female genetalia. She had both male and female parts and they had to make some very hard decisions. Now they have to worry that they made the right decisions and that when the child becomes an adolescent and this has to be explained that the people in this world will not be so cruel as I have seen many be. People can be so cruel, especially when it comes to sexuality. They have no idea what they are talking about – but boy do they talk, condemn and make judgmental comments.
Report Post »thejackal
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:43pmYou gotta love the evil progressive filth, abort, abort, abort…. Thank God her parents weren’t liberals, she would of been medical waste burned in an incenerator. I bet this little treasure is going to be a lot more productive to society than 90% of the democrat/parasite filth. You go girl!
Report Post »TheRickster
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:00pmRight on Jackal!!!
Report Post »Nora
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:05pmAmen!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:42pmShe is indeed a special, brave girl…I have watched shows regarding children like this…and the surgeries they go through…strong girl, strong family.
Report Post »SERUM
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:41pmShe’s definitely a beautiful child, she gives the rest of us hope! God bless this family!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:01pmShe also reminds us of how very blessed our individual lives are…you might not think you are rich enough, pretty enough, loved enough, than you take a look at this girls story…and maybe you don’t have it so bad…people ask why does God allow evil…I guess to really see the good…bless this family in the good decisions they’ve made.
Report Post »Doctor Nordo
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:38pmCool little girl! I‘m concerned about how she’s going to cope with the cruelty of high school, but it looks like she will be fine.
Report Post »RobinKaye
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:57pmDon’t worry about Clara in high school – I have four children that have gone through her high school (New Trier) and she is going to do just fine, I have no doubt she will be treated just as well there as she is in grade school.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:05pmI can only imagine how much the cruelty will increase by that time. I can almost hear the off spring of our uber left haters and maybe even those union teachers telling her that she should have been aborted for the good of humanity. I often wonder how many of the next Einsteins, Curries, Salks, or Pasteurs or simply a child who as an adult leads the world of science to fantastic discoveries….for the good of humanity, have been aborted. And, will continue to be aborted.
Report Post »Perspective
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:36pmMay God Bless this family always and forever. Isn’t it sad that the medical staff looked down upon them for having what is truly a beautiful child? Creation of life is the only true miracle that humans can perform.A Miracle indeed and every life sacred.
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:36pmonly an animal do anything but good to this child….only an animal.
Report Post »mycomet123
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:33pmWhat a beautiful little girl inside & out! This fallen world we all live in is sooooooooooo critical. This secular society decides for the culture what is considered ugly or beautiful —All this judgement we base on a body that is decaying & dying as we speak. The day one is born they begin the dying/aging process. What truly counts & what we take with us is the beauty we allow into our soul & spirit!
Report Post »Perspective
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:38pmThat’s right. I say it “We‘re all dying from the second we’re born,it’s just the trip in between that counts.”
Report Post »Owt_Raged
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:33pmAnd to think, right now there are parents out there, arguing their right to kill any imperfect child. And lots who kill children who have no abnormalities at all, they just were inconvenient.
To those people I say; You are the imperfect one, look at the beautiful heart this little girl has! She will bring so much more happiness into the world than many could ever realize.
Report Post »BlondeFrenzy
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:32pmShe is beautiful and so are her parents for never considering anything other than life for her.
Report Post »SheriS
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:32pmWhat an incredible family! God bless them as is the little girl! May there always be peace with this family!
Report Post »PCsince1776
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:28pmThis little girl is one special little lady! And her family rocks!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:40pmI concur…no wonder she’s so special…listen to her parents…despite the looks they got from the medical staff they still decided to keep their baby…right on!
Report Post »ProgressiveDeist267
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:24pmI have a lot of respect this young girl. Be proud of who you are in life.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:20pmWhat a brave little girl
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